MADD TAKES ON 'GRAND THEFT AUTO'

THE HARTFORD COURANT

When "Grand Theft Auto IV" hit the game store shelves, there were many protests, including a new critic, Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

MADD protested a scenario in which players can get the main character intoxicated, then have him drive. "Drunk driving is not a game, and it is not a joke," MADD said. The group asked the Entertainment Software Rating Board to reclassify "GTA IV" as Adults-Only, a step up from its Mature rating.

Rockstar Games responded: "We have a great deal of respect for MADD's mission, but we believe the mature audience . . . is more than sophisticated enough to understand the game's content."